Students of the Ageless Wisdom &
Hazards of Hatha Yoga
From the Work of Helena Roerich & AAB

S

tudents
of the Ageless Wisdom should be warned about the Hazards of Hatha Yoga.
AAB: A Treatise on Cosmic Fire

All the various Yogas have had their place in the unfoldment of the human
being. In the first purely physical race, which is called the Lemurian, the
Yoga at that time imposed upon infant humanity was Hatha Yoga, the Yoga of
the physical body, that Yoga which brings into conscious use and
manipulation the various organs, muscles and parts of the physical frame.
The problem before the adepts of that time was to teach human beings, who
were then little more than animals, the purpose, significance and use of
their various organs, so that they could consciously control them, and the
meaning of the symbol of the human figure.

In the first purely physical race, which is called the Lemurian, the Yoga at
that time imposed upon infant humanity was Hatha Yoga, the Yoga of the
physical body, that Yoga which brings into conscious use and manipulation
the various organs, muscles and parts of the physical frame. The problem
before the adepts of that time was to teach human beings, who were then
little more than animals, the purpose, significance and use of their various
organs, so that they could consciously control them, and the meaning of the
symbol of the human figure.
Therefore, in those early days, through the practice of Hatha Yoga, the human being reached the portal of
initiation. At that time the attainment of the third initiation, resulting
in the transfiguration of the personality, was the highest initiation that
man was capable of achieving.

In Atlantean days, the progress of the sons
of men was procured through the imposition of two Yogas. First, the Yoga
which is called by the name of Laya Yoga, the Yoga of the centres which
produced a stabilizing of the etheric body and of the centres in man and the
development of the astral and psychic nature. Later on, Bhakti Yoga,
growing out of the development of the emotional or astral body, was
incorporated with Laya Yoga and the foundation of that mysticism and
devotion, which has been the underlying incentive during our particular
Aryan root race, was laid. The fourth initiation was at that time the
objective. The
subject of these great initiations has been discussed more at length in my
previous volume,"Initiation,
Human and Solar."

Now, in the Aryan race, the subjugation of the mental
body and the control of the mind is brought about through the practice of
Raja Yoga, and the fifth initiation, that of adept, is the goal for evolving
humanity. Thus, all the Yogas have had their place and served a useful
purpose and it will become apparent that any return to Hatha Yoga practices
or those practices which deal specifically with the development of the
centres, brought about through various types of meditation practices and
breathing exercises, is, from a certain aspect, a retrogression. It
will be found that through the practice of Raja Yoga, and through assuming
that point of directional control which is to be found by the man who
centers his consciousness in the soul, the other forms of Yoga are
unnecessary, for the greater Yoga automatically includes all the lesser in
its results, though not in its practices.

Hatha Yoga... work[s] with matter on some plane in the three worlds, and do
evil that good may come; control[s] the devas, and attempt to produce
specific ends by manipulation of the matter of the form. The Hierarchy works
with the soul within the form and produces results that are intelligent,
self-induced and permanent. Wherever attention is centred on the form and
not on the Spirit, the tendency is to deva worship, deva contact and black
magic, for the form is made of deva substance on all planes.
AAB: A Treatise on Cosmic Fire

Agni Yoga Teachings

A skilled archer, even in this age of firearms, is still a skilled
marksman. Likewise with Yogas. Except for Hatha Yoga, all Yogas are
beautiful in accomplishment. It would be unwise to belittle any of them. One
should only speak of which better applies to the present stage of evolution.
Signs of Agni Yoga 193.

Exercises in Hatha-Yoga should not go beyond a slight and
very careful pranayama, which strengthens health, as otherwise they might be
dangerous and could lead to mediumship, obsession and insanity. (LHR I, p
204)

Several impatient Chelas,
whom we knew personally in India, went in for the practice of Hatha Yoga,
notwithstanding our warnings. Of these, two developed consumption, one of
whom died; others became almost idiotic; another committed suicide; and one
developed into a regular Tantrika, a Black Magician, but his career,
fortunately for himself, was cut short by death. Letters Of
Helena Roerich I, 8 September 1934.

One should also take into
consideration that Hatha Yoga is dangerous because, in a peculiar way, it
strengthens the astral body and holds it for a very long time in the lower
astral spheres, which prevents the evolution of spirit. In the temples of
India there was, and still is, a custom of keeping Hatha Yogis for certain
lower phenomena of the astral type. They are supposed to lead a very pure
life, but even then are never initiated into the higher spiritual powers.
And if such a Hatha Yogi leaves the temple, he is not accepted back again,
for, by becoming free from the higher control while having an easy access to
the lower strata of the Subtle World, such a yogi becomes a victim and
sometimes even an instrument of the darkest forces. Here is also the reason
why the Hierophants of Egypt never accepted mediumistically inclined
disciples, and even avoided lymphatic servants. Not a single medium, not one
lymphatic, can become a true Agni Yogi. Letters Of Helena
Roerich I, 6 May 1934.

Since Hatha Yoga demands certain bodily exercises, the
question may be raised as to whether such exercises are also needed for
other Yogas? Neither Arhats nor Great Spiritual Toilers practiced these.
Verily, theirs are the trials of the spirit, which not only subdue the body
but take the place of all exercises of the flesh. Only the avowal of spirit
can replace all else. Fiery World I, 380.

One should not overestimate the
achievements of Hatha Yoga and think that "the adepts of Hatha Yoga are
equal to those of Raja Yoga in ability to awaken the kundalini and to
acquire various siddhis," and that "they reach bliss and liberation from
matter." It is not so! The degree of bliss reached by such adepts is very
relative, and they never reach liberation from matter (in the sense which is
meant by the Great Teachers) by means of Hatha Yoga. As it is said in the
Teaching, "We know of no one who reached the goal by way of Hatha Yoga."

Letters Of Helena Roerich I, 6 May 1934.

Even the development of the lower siddhis, to which the Hatha Yogis come by stubborn and terribly difficult
mechanical exercises (Western literature has no idea about even half of
these horrors) is not lasting, and in their next incarnations they may lose
all these siddhis. Only those achievements are valuable and permanent that
come naturally, for then they are the result of inner spiritual development
and can never be lost. Only in such way can the all-powerful manifestations
be reached. Exercises in Hatha Yoga should not go beyond a slight and very
careful pranayama, which strengthens health, as otherwise they might be
dangerous and could lead to mediumism, obsession and insanity. Quite
correctly, the Hindu people of high spiritual development consider Hatha
Yoga most undesirable, and they say that at best it is useful "for fat and
ill people." Even Vivekananda, who is so often mentioned now, though he
cited examples of fearful demoniac persons whom he knew who were able to
perform the most amazing miracles and cure the hopelessly sick by a glance,
was very much against the so-called siddhis and these miracles.Letters
Of Helena Roerich I, 6 May 1934.

Moreover, the difference between Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga is precisely qualitative, and not quantitative, as
you think. Hatha Yoga can never rise above the lower psychic phenomena. And
there has never been a case when a Hatha Yoga became a Raja Yogi - their
paths are entirely different. The true "efficacious pearls" include Raja,
Jnana, Bhakti and Agni Yoga, but not Hatha Yoga, as some ignorant people
think; just as artificial pearls cannot be compared to real ones.
Furthermore, I cannot quite understand the following thought: "But
nevertheless, Hatha Yoga gives to its adepts efficacious pearls of high
achievement, and in the same manner every occultist must look upon the
achievements of Agni Yoga as a similar tremendous victory of spirit over the
flesh." Here again, Agni Yoga is put on the same level with Hatha Yoga,
whereas these two Yogas are diametrically opposite. As it is said, "Verily,
Agni Yoga has nothing in common with Hatha Yoga: this must be thoroughly
realized." Agni Yoga deals with the highest fiery transmutation of all the
centers, which cannot be achieved by any mechanical methods but requires the
direct controlling influence of the Great Teacher. The high attainment of
Agni Yoga can be reached only by a spirit which possesses agelong spiritual
accumulations, collected in the center of the Chalice, while the latter is
not absolutely essential for the Hatha Yogi. Another thing that is
characteristic of Agni Yoga is that its achievements must be attained during
everyday life, while all the other Yogas (except Karma Yoga) demand
isolation from ordinary life, and thus are not sufficient for the present
and future evolution.
Letters Of Helena Roerich I, 6 May 1934.

Agni Yoga Teachings (electronic versions of all the books are free online)
www.agniyoga.org

Leaves Of Morya's Garden
Book One The
Call

Into the New World my first message.
You who gave the Ashram,
And you who gave two lives,
Proclaim.
Builders and warriors, strengthen the steps.
Reader, if you have not grasped — read again,
after a while.
The predestined is not accidental,
The leaves fall in their time.
And winter is but the harbinger of spring.
All is revealed; all is attainable.
I will cover you with My shield,
if you but tend to your labors.
I have spoken.

There is no salvation
surer than that through devotion. One can
forgive much where there is unswerving devotion.
The man who is devoted in heart can be relied
upon. It is cause for rejoicing when Hierarchy
is upheld by devotion. At present it is
especially needed. If yesterday's confusion
seemed enormous, what can one say of tomorrow's?
I have already prepared you for the growth ofArmageddon,
and you know that the black wings of darkness
will not withstand the Fiery Sword. Be not
astonished, the Battle increases!
Agni Yoga:
Fiery World I,605.

Excerpts from some of the books by
the Master Djwhal Khul (also known as the Tibetan and the Master DK)

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An excellent online catalogue and library
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Agni Yoga Teachings (all the books
in seven languages can be downloaded at
www.agniyoga.org)

Agni Yoga Teachings regarding
sexIf we compare two
individuals, of whom one dissipates the vital substance while
the other consciously conserves it, we will be amazed at how
much more sensitive the spiritual apparatus of the second
becomes. The quality of his labors becomes entirely different,
and the quantity of his projects and ideas multiplies. The
centers of the solar plexus and brain are being heated, as it
were, by an invisible fire.